If Gowda, who has trained in Phoenix the past three years, gets on the podium after the discus Tuesday night, he would become India's first Olympic track medalist.

Gowda was fifth in qualifying Monday with a throw of 213 feet, 11 inches.

"The first throw slipped out of my hand, but I knew the second was good one," he said. "I'm feeling pretty sluggish (in the morning), but I am confident for the final. I just need to stay relaxed."

Three-time Olympian John Godina coaches Gowda at his World Throws Center, located at Athletes' Performance near Reach 11. After watching qualifying, Godina said he believes Estonia's Gerd Kanter and Germany's Robert Harting are favorites in a 12-man final and added that Gowda is "in there with everybody else."

Gowda was seventh at the 2011 world championships, a hint of what could become a breakout story here and make his story known throughout India, with 1.2 billion people, and the world.

Born in Mysore, India, Gowda moved at age 5 to the United States with his family. He grew up, literally to a height of 6 feet 10, in Maryland and was introduced to track by his father Shive, coach of India's 1988 Olympic track team.

At the University of North Carolina, Gowda won the 2006 NCAA discus title but failed to reach the final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"While I was in college they took care of all my expenses," Gowda told the Times ofIndia. "Once I graduated, the burden was on me and my dad to keep it going."

Gowda receives financial support from Olympic Gold Quest, a foundation created to elevate Indian sport.

The country has just 23 Olympic medals all-time, including three here in shooting and badminton.

For Gowda, to win a medal "would be a life-changing thing for him," said Godina, who was a silver and bronze medalist in the shot put.

"It's a very interesting situation to be from country that's never had a medal, especially a country of that size. It could positively affect in number of ways."

During training, Godina said getting Gowda healthy and heavier were the first objectives. Dr. John Ball of Chandler helped with the former to alleviate knee pain, and an extra 40 pounds easily fit on his large frame.

"He threw at first like a weak, small guy," Godina said. "Instead of changing his movement tendencies to what a big guy would normally do, we decided to see if we could make his large body throw like smaller guy. It's worked out. The last 14 to 15 months he's started looking like he's got ability to be at this level.

"I'm confident he's going to be just fine as far as his performance level. He's ready to throw at or beyond what he did (in qualifying). You never know what other throwers are going to do. He has a chance for a medal."